Posted on 03/31/2006 7:49:32 PM PST by Pikamax
With the immigration debate raging in Congress and immigration supporters spilling out into the streets, the latest Time Poll finds a lopsided majority of the American public, 72%, favor a "guest worker" program in a head-to-head match-up over a House bill that would criminalize illegal immigration.
The latest Time Poll of 1,004 adults, conducted March 29-30, finds that even a large majority of border state residents, 78%, favor the guest worker approach over expelling illegals. Large majorities of Republicans (66%), Democrats (75%), and Independents (73%) favor the guest worker approach.
Favor Tougher Border Security Too As a fractured Congress debates immigration reform, two-thirds (68%) say that illegal immigration is an extremely/very serious problem in the United States. A large majority believe the U.S. is not doing enough to secure its borders (82%). While Americans overwhelmingly favor the guest worker option, they also want a crackdown at the border and stiff penalties for employers who hire illegals.
The debate has Americans voicing sometimes contradictory opinions. A small majority (51%) still think the U.S. would be "better off" by deporting all illegal immigrants compared to a little less than two-in-five (38%) who think the U.S. would be "worse off." Americans would also limit illegals' access to government services, such as driver's licenses (69% not allow), health care/food stamps (75% not allow), and attending public schools (51% not allow). Support Beyond Guest Workers Most Americans would allow illegal immigrants to gain citizenship under certain circumstances.
Demonstrations Backfire? Partisanship and Geography Differences
Other Political Fallout As President Bush meets in Cancun on immigration and trade issues with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, Bush's overall approval rating sits at 37%. A majority disapprove of his handling of illegal immigration (56% disapprove - 25% approve). His disapproval score on immigration is down five points from January's 61% disapprove – 24% approve. Almost equal numbers of Americans are more likely to vote for (29%) or vote against (28%) a candidate who favors criminalizing illegal immigration. More than 1 in 3 (37%) say it wouldn't have much effect on their vote. Republicans in Congress are more likely to feel the heat on this issue. Republicans (37%) are more likely than Democrats (24%) to support a candidate for Congress who favors making illegal immigration a crime.
The biggest concern for Americans regarding illegal immigration is the drain on taxpayers' dollars to provide services such as health care and education to them (61% "very concerned"). Concern is higher among Republicans (67%) and Southerners (65%). Other major concerns about illegal immigrants are that they:
Methodology This Time Magazine poll was conducted by telephone between March 29-30, 2006 among a national random sample of 1,004 adults, age 18 and older throughout America. The margin of error for the entire sample is approximately +/- 3 percentage points. The margin of error is higher for subgroups. Surveys are subject to other error sources as well, including sampling coverage error, recording error, and respondent error. The Poll's partisan breakdown is as follows: Schulman, Ronca, & Bucuvalas (SRBI) Public Affairs designed the survey and conducted all interviewing. The full Time questionnaire and trend data may be found at: www.srbi.com.
Please Tell Me Which Comes Closest To Your Views
% Favor
Total (%)
Republican (%)
Democrat (%)
Independent (%)
Allow Illegal Immigrants To Get Temporary Work Visas
72
66
75
73
Make Illegal Immigration a Crime And Not Allow Anyone Who Entered The Country Illegaly to Work or Stay In the U.S.
25
32
22
24
About 2 in 3 (67%) are aware of this week's demonstrations by immigrants and immigrant rights activists in a number of cities. The demonstrations likely had little effect currying support for their pro-immigrant position. Among the people who were aware of the demonstrations, only 14% reported that the protests made them more supportive of rights for illegal immigrants, while almost three times as many, 40%, said that the demonstrations make them less supportive. Almost half (44%) said that the demonstrations had no effect on their stance.
Partisan differences complicate the issue further. However, these are mainly differences in degree:
Do You Favor or Oppose the Following to Deal with Illegal Immigration?
% Favor
Total (%)
Republican (%)
Democrat (%)
Allowing illegal immigrants to register as guest workers
79
79
77
Allowing illegal immigrants in the US, citizenship if they learn English, have a job and pay taxes
78
73
82
Granting temporary visas to immigrants not in the US so they can do seasonal/temporary work and return to home countries
72
72
71
Providing and enforcing penalties for employers convicted of hiring illegal immigrants
71
77
66
Stopping illegal immigrants from entering the US by taking whatever steps necessary to guard the border
62
71
54
Deporting all illegal immigrants
47
58
45
How Concerned Are You About Each Item Concerning Illegal Immigrants?
% Very Concerned
Total (%)
Republican (%)
Democrat (%)
Independent (%)
Costs taxpayers too much money to provide them with services
61
67
57
61
They increase the likelihood of terrorism in the U.S.
44
52
40
44
American workers can't afford to work for the same low wages as illegal immigrants
43
43
43
42
They increase the amount of crime
40
46
38
39
They take jobs away from Americans
35
36
37
30
There are too many people in the U.S.
33
30
34
33
Weaken American way of life
29
33
25
28
32% Democrat
28% Republican
25% Independent
It would change the status of the crime from a MISDEMEANOR to a FELONY. That is what all these pricks are protesting. Sensenbrenner wants the status changed and jail time mandated for all those who attempt to cross the border AFTER the law is passed. This is, of course, assuming that we do whatever is necessary to seal the border!!!
This poll is nearly 180 degrees from previous polls on the subject.
good snag.....what is the technical name for agenda driven research or polls?
I heard Liddy use a term for research or polls that set out to prove a preconcieved notion wholly subjective while claiming to be objective
that covers nearly all social academics research these days
it was a nice terminology...wish I could recall it
Neither did Time mention the Bracero Program, instituted in 1942 to let Mexicans enter the country to do farm work, when American boys were going into the Army to fight WW II. That program lasted until 1964, providing most of the agricultural workers in California's farm belt.
Nor do they have a clue about the details of the Bracero Program. Mexico then controlled its own side of the border. Mexico and the US jointly agreed on how many workers would come in. There were provisions to guarantee that they would return to Mexico afterward. And none of the time they spent here counted toward gaining US citizenship, because at all times they were counted as Mexican citizens.
No there's a "guest worker" system that worked. And it was the Democrats in Congress who insisted that it be abolished. IIRC, the total workers allowed was less than a million at the height of that program.
Congressman Billybob
Thank you, Congressman! I had TOTALLY forgotten about that program. I grew up on a farm and there were a few of those guys who worked on our neighbor's places. You are right, though, it worked well and they all went home at the end of harvest!
We ought to have a Guest Worker program for those that will play by the rules, the ones that don't ought to be shipped to US Army boot camp. After successful graduation they should be sent to Iraq to rebuild that country for a 1 year tour of duty and then honorably discharged at the end of the year tour of duty and granted citizenship...
Interest that RATS think that Illegals take American jobs more than Republicans do and that RATS are less inclined to want people who hire illegals to face penalties. The last sort of proves that Republicans like Illegals for low wages false.
Calling somebody a "temporary guest" who has no intention or obligation to ever leave seems like a perversion of the words. Also, the guests to my home don't demand that I pick up the tab for their medical care or their kid's schooling. Perhaps I'm just a bad host for not offering ...
We don't need no steenkin' guest workers.
Why would I even consider readin something published by TIME?
Build the fence!
I aint buyin it!
You're absolutely right. This whole thing only works IF we MAKE them leave!!!
The voters are in a state of dissonance, and confused. No surprise there.
Do I need to point out the fact that because it is "Illegal Immigration," by definition, means that it is already a crime?
Feel free to extend your remarks as to why you think the poll is biased. Yes, the results are internally inconsistent. The human mind is not like a Swiss watch, for most. Add to that, that are leaders have not been candid about the cost and benefits, and the hard choices that must be made, and how likely they are to achieve any intended consequences. This very site is an object lesson in much of that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.